Peter McGrath, general manager at Taylor Shaw in Sheffield, said all children in reception classes across the 20 schools were being offered the opportunity to try a freshly-prepared, nutritious school dinner.
“Unfortunately, there may be some children that do not have even one healthy, nutritious meal a day.
“Giving them the chance to do so by offering them a free, freshly-prepared meal at school is vitally important not just for children’s health, but for giving them the best chance of being on task in class.
“Working with Sheffield Change4Life, Taylor Shaw are keen to be a part of the National School Meals Week and promote just how tasty a freshly-prepared, healthy meal can be.”
Under Government plans announced last month, all children in Reception, Year One and Year Two will be entitled to free school dinners from September 2014.
Added McGrath: “Now that the Government has announced plans to make meals free for children in Key Stage one from next September, Taylor Shaw hopes that this will encourage even more children to choose school meals in future and be better equipped to fulfill their potential in class.”
The National School Meals Week scheme follows a similar trial called Welcome to School Meals, which was carried out by Taylor Shaw in Sheffield over two weeks during the last academic year.